Rwanda
Day One: Into the Mountains
After touch down in Kigali, you’ll be whisked straight towards your adventure in the Volcanoes National Park, home to the endangered Mountain Gorilla and once the base for the zoologist Dian Fossey, featured in the movie ‘Gorillas in the Mist’, who lived between the five volcanoes of the Virunga Mountains in order to study these incredible creatures. There’s time for a stop-off at the Kigali Genocide Memorial, an essential reminder of the atrocities that happened here 20 years ago - but also of the selfless heroism of some Rwandans who risked their lives to save friends and even complete strangers - then it’s on to your lodge to settle in. Our chosen lodges are excellently placed for gorilla tracking, offering comfortable accommodation and warm service in incredible locations. Enjoy an evening meal infused with typical African hospitality, before a big day tomorrow.
Overnight at your chosen lodge (see below)
Meals included: Dinner
Day Two: Meet the Locals
After an early breakfast, your hike towards the gorillas begins. There are ten gorilla groups spread across the park and only 80 permits for tracking issued per day – so you are almost guaranteed more gorillas than people! It typically takes two to three hours to trek towards them, through bamboo forest shrouded in mist and ringing with the calls of myriad birds. Following experienced trackers and porters, you’ll eventually get close to the animals. It’s a fascinating experience: you’ll notice their sheer size and human-like mannerisms up close, as your guide communicates with them to show that you are no threat. You’ll spend around an hour with the gorillas before making the trek back to your lodge, on this never to be forgotten adventure. This activity is controlled by the forest authorities and takes place in small carefully managed groups.
Overnight at your chosen lodge (see below)
Meals included: Breakfast; lunch; dinner
Day Three: Monkey Business
Today is all about the National Park’s second most famous residents – the golden monkeys. Only 80 of these shy, mischievous creatures remain in the area, but their shiny coats make them easy to spot as they leap through the bamboo forest (you might see some who have lost their tails as a result of jumping accidents). Trackers find them by following trails of leftover meals – bamboo shoots – and you’ll usually reach them within an hour. Spend another hour watching them eat and play, before returning to your lodge. Unlike other primates in the area, these monkeys can be photographed with camera flash, making for excellent photographs. You might also catch them stealing potatoes from the neighbouring fields, before digging them out and cleaning them to eat. Alternatively, you can hike to the Dian Fossey centre in Bisoke, to search out more Silverbacks. Though sightings are not guaranteed on this trek, it follows a less-visited trail into empty countryside for a really wild experience. This activity is controlled by the forest authorities and takes place in small carefully managed groups.
Overnight at your chosen lodge (see below)
Meals included: Breakfast; lunch; dinner
Day Four: Home Time
After breakfast, you’ll be transferred back to Kigali airport, ready for your flight home. Please note that you will need to leave at least three hours for check-in.
Meals included: Breakfast
Overall meals included: 3 Breakfasts; 2 lunches; 3 dinners
What's included:
- Private bilingual or English-speaking guides unless stated otherwise
- Private transfers unless stated otherwise
- Meals as listed
- Mandatory taxes and service fees
- Entrance tickets and permits unless stated otherwise
What's not included:
- International flights to/from experience: call 0208 432 0885 for AX specially negotiated flight rates
- Tips for guides, drivers, porters, hotel and restaurant staff
- Any visa, customs, airport taxes or similar charges before or after the holiday
- We cannot guarantee the included hotel breakfast for early departures
- Drinks during meals unless stated otherwise
- Personal expenses, such as laundry
What to pack:
- Long sleeves and trousers (not shorts)
- Waterproof hiking boots and thick socks
- Warm layers and light weight waterproofs
- Camera (DSLR) with 70-200mm, 70-300mm or 80-400mm lens or long zoom ‘Bridge’ camera
- Lightweight waterproof camera backpack or small waterproof rucksack
- Gloves to protect your hands from thorns - gardening gloves are ideal
Accommodation
Classic - Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge
Premium - Five Volcanoes Lodge
Deluxe - Volcanoes Virunga Lodge
You will get a choice of hotel options for the duration of your experience:
Classic ★★★
Classic hotels provide mid-range accommodation (minimum three-star rated), with comfortable rooms and private facilities. We’ve selected these hotels based on positive client feedback.
Premium ★★★★
Premium hotels are typically upper mid range (usually four star), with more amenities than our classic choices. They all have comfortable rooms with private facilities and have received good client feedback.
Deluxe ★★★★★
Deluxe hotels are luxury hotels with excellent facilities and service, usually categorised as 4.5 or 5 star. Clients rate them extremely highly.
When booking an experience, please remember that the hotel category you select is for the whole holiday. Please note that the actual hotel selection will be driven by availability at time of booking.
To check other related African trips, click here.
To check our Gorilla Trekking Experience in Uganda, click here.
GETTING THERE
Typical return Economy flights from London cost around £500 per person and take approximately 13 hours depending on exact flight configurations and layover times.
Experience start point: Kigali (KGL). Arrive by 1pm.
End point: Kigali (KGL).
This holiday's departures up to 31st October 2019 are part of our Pioneers Club promotion. Click here for more information about the Pioneers Club.
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